Kay Toolson, who will officially step down July 1 as president of Monaco RV LLC, delivered a parting speech to the company’s dealer body during the June 20-22 Dealer Congress 2011 at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, Texas.

Toolson first assured attendees, representing 68 of the Coburg, Ore.-based company’s dealers, that he was leaving operations in capable hands. Bill Osborne, a 30-plus year veteran of the auto industry, will take over for Toolson in July, assuming the role of vice president of custom products for Navistar Inc.’s Monaco and Workhorse Custom Chassis LLC subsidiaries.

“Bill will be an asset in working with the rest of the management team to ensure Monaco RV continues to flourish and grow well into the future,” Toolson said. “We will redouble our efforts to ensure that Monaco RV is the best partner to all of you – both with motorized and towable products, as well as service and parts.”

Although, he will be transitioning into retirement – “there are lots of golf courses I haven’t played and so many fish left to catch” – Toolson indicated that he would still be involved with Monaco in a part-time capacity.

“I’m not going to say goodbye,” he said. “I’m still going to be around, doing a few things where I can be of help to the Monaco and Navistar teams. I will look forward to running into you down the road.”

Looking back, the Smithville, Utah, native recapped the highlights of a career in the RV industry that began in 1972 and culminated with a 25-year run as the head of Monaco Coach Corp. The company fell victim to the economy in March 2009 and was purchased out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy later that year by Navistar.

“When I started out, I was in Dallas and I heard about this company, Redman Industries, that was looking to get into the RV industry,” he said. “They offered me a job as product manager. My wife and I moved to Southern California and I started Redman in the motorhome business.”

Toolson spent a couple of years at Redman, “enduring the 1973 gas crisis,” before joining Michigan General, which owned King’s Highway Mobile Industries in Los Angeles.

“I spent eight years there, mainly because I liked working with high-line products,” Toolson said. “Then came a chance to buy into (Anaheim, Calif.-based) Executive Industries as a minority owner. I was there for four years, when I got the opportunity to go to Oregon with some backers and buy Monaco. That was in 1986.

“Monaco had 67 employees, it did $13 million in business and it was losing money. Over the next decade or so, we built the company to $1.4 billion in annual revenue, and of course, saw a lot of success.”

Toolson emphasized that over the years, the company’s dealers played a large role in attaining that success.

“We grew and flourished together, and I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed building relationships with so many of you in this room,” he said. “Over the years we’ve become friends, and I thank you for that friendship and support.”

Monaco RV LLC, a manufacturer of motorized and towable recreational vehicles, celebrated with American RV at an Open House held June 3.

The event, held at the dealer’s Grand Rapids, Mich., location, included a look at new Monaco products, prize drawings and a presentation by Mike Snell, senior vice president of sales and product development for Monaco. In attendance were six executives from Monaco, a representative from the Navistar Engine Group, and American RV staff, who greeted and answered questions from over 75 customers.

“American RV is a family-run, outstanding organization that puts customer service first,” said Snell. “Our 10-month partnership with American RV has been one of mutual respect, built on a commitment to bring the best recreational vehicles to customers.

“American RV has demonstrated in a short time, the qualities that make it an outstanding dealership; a knowledgeable, well-organized sales and management team, unequalled customer service and highly trained certified technicians and parts staff with belief that the customer comes first. Monaco RV is honored to have American RV as a dealer partner.”

John Monterusso, American RV motorhome sales manager, noted, “From its innovative Monaco Vesta to being the only RV manufacturer building diesel motorhomes that do not require DEF/Urea additives, I find Monaco RV is setting an industry standard with its Monaco Class A motorhome lineup that is very hard to beat. At American RV, we want all our customers to get behind the wheel and take a drive before they make the purchase. This is different from the average dealership standard. Driving a Monaco with the out-mounted air system defiantly sets it apart from the competition.”

He added, “The support and cooperation from the entire Monaco executive team has been a great experience. I am looking forward to continued success and growth. With Navistar being a company that has experience in building engines, trucks, military vehicles as well as many other venues, the quality control implemented into the Monaco RV line will set it head and shoulders above the competition.”

American RV is a premier dealer of new, used and rental RV’s, offering an expansive inventory selection and showroom. With a 17-bay modern service facility staffed by factory-trained, RVDA/RVIA/ASA master certified and state-licensed technicians, the dealership also boasts a state-of-the-art research and special order parts department, overnight on-site parking and sanitation facilities.

Moran has an extensive career in the RV industry, with 30 years training dealers in the aftermarket segment with A & E Systems and OEM representation in both towables and motorhome. The past three years were spent at two of the largest RV retailers in the U.S., Las Mesa RV and McMahon’s RV.

“Michael adds even more passion to our sales team with his product knowledge and training skills. We were glad to get him on board prior to our upcoming Dealer Congress and new product showing,” stated Scott Jacobson, national sales manager for Holiday Rambler.

“It is an honor to become part of a dynamic organization, that being Navistar,” said Moran. “It is a testament to our industry when multi-billion dollar company makes a massive, long term commitment to the RV customer. Imagine one company providing the chassis, engine and complete body for the motor home. This will truly be a highly prized product line for dealers.”

Moran will be managing sales for Holiday Rambler motorized products for California, Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico.

Seated on a couch in a Holiday Rambler Trip Class A motorhome at the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds in Goshen, Ind., William L. “Bill” Osborne, the incoming head of Monaco RV LLC, seemed at ease – considering all that was going on around him during the Holiday Rambler Recreational Vehicle Club Chapter 419 annual rally and the fact that he’d only been named to the job three days prior.

The rally, which took place April 30-May 5, drew 280 member coaches. Just as important for Osborne, who on July 1 officially succeeds Monaco President Kay L. Toolson in overseeing the Coburg, Ore.-based RV builder as vice president of custom products for Navistar Inc.’s Truck Group in Warrenville, Ill., is that he got a chance to mix with scores of Monaco and Holiday Rambler coach owners in a relaxed atmosphere.

And that’s a real plus for Osborne, who’s based at Navistar’s Chicago-area corporate facilities and whose new responsibilities also include Workhorse Custom Chassis, because he’s convinced that product innovation is the key to winning favor among North America’s towable and motorized dealers and consumers. And he knows that cutting-edge innovation depends heavily on input from consumers, who aren’t generally timid about telling RV builders how they feel about floorplans and design.

Fact is, Osborne, whose company had purchased Monaco out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy two years ago, seemed ready to roll up his sleeves and get down to the work of designing, building and selling RVs in a commercial sector that’s not all that different in certain ways from the auto and truck industry he came from.

A mechanical engineering graduate of Kettering University with an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, Osborne, 51, spent more than 30 years at Chrysler, General Motors and Ford Motor Co., most of it in product development and manufacturing. After serving as president and CEO of Ford of Canada and president and CEO of Ford of Australia, he worked as president and CEO of Federal Signal and, later, as a Navistar director – a seat he gave up in order to accept his new position.

Osborne, for his part, seems acutely aware of the fact that he’s replacing a virtual industry legend in July shortly after Monaco’s June 20-22 Dealer Congress in Grapevine, Texas. Indeed, the retiring Toolson is a respected industry executive who made a name for himself at Kings Highway Mobile Industries, Executive Industries and Oregon’s Monaco Coach Corp. before assuming the presidency of Monaco RV LLC after its buyout by Navistar.

Osborne says Toolson, who built Monaco Coach from a $17 million specialty RV builder into a $1.4-billion-a-year public company before it hit tough times in the recession, will be doing some special projects for Navistar and will remain a viable factor for Navistar’s management team. “He’ll be on my speed dial,” says Osborne, whose remarks are as follows:

RVB: Glancing at your resume, Bill, you appear to be a product-oriented guy, which could be a good thing for Navistar’s Monaco unit.Osborne: “Yeah, I’ve developed products. I launched the 2004 F150 (Ford pickup). That was probably the biggest product program that I had, and I spent a lot of time in the truck business at Ford. So, I know a little bit about commercial trucks and a little bit about the RV industry because I had Ford’s strip chassis for motorhomes under my responsibility while I was there.

RVB: You’re stepping into a position that essentially succeeds Kay Toolson, a veteran industry figure, even though the title and responsibilities are a little different.Osborne: Yes, Kay was specifically focused on Monaco RV, and I obviously have the Workhorse brand under my responsibility. But clearly, the bigger of the two units is the RV business, and that’s where I’ll be spending a lot of my time.

RVB: What’s your perception of this industry in general and the Monaco brand in particular now under the Navistar umbrella, a couple of years after the Great Recession took the predecessor company down?Osborne: “Well, the industry is a pretty strong industry, and I’m talking in terms of brand loyalty, in terms of passionate customers. I mean I’ve never seen an industry where the customers are so passionate about their brands, you know? And part of the ownership experience is not just the product itself, but the affiliation of owners. That is a huge, huge difference between most consumer product-based companies.
So, it’s an industry where you’ve got to be very, very responsive to customers. You know, for one thing, it’s a big purchase for most people. And you can’t put a product out there and sort of leave people with it. I mean, you’ve got to be with them throughout the entire ownership and service experience, and you’ve got to listen to them because they’re very passionate about the products.
I mean, sitting here at this rally, I got great product feedback from owners about every little feature of the coach. This kind of passion is what you rely on as a manufacturer to make your product better.

RVB: We hear that you sat in on some owner seminars?Osborne: Yeah, we had an ownership group meeting. We had a men-only meeting and a women-only meeting, and they were both very eye opening. And, again, the passion for the brand is something that is huge, and that is something that we want to capitalize on. And the best way to do that is to get closer to customers. We talked a lot about how we can bring customers into our design process so they can help us make the product a lot better.
The thing I liked was that the feedback we got was probably feedback we should have had while we were designing the coach. And that’s what we plan to do is bring the customers into our process and get their voice a lot earlier so that we could really make a coach that meets their needs.

RVB: We assume that your automotive background will play into your hands in the RV business?Osborne: What’s clear to me is that, if you look at the history of the RV industry, a lot of the companies were very entrepreneurial. You know, they’re operations run by individual founders, and they grew and developed over time. And so a lot of these small companies didn’t have the process and structure that you need to build good quality (products) time after time.
At the same time, the RV industry doesn’t have captive dealer networks. So, you can’t control the service and ownership experience like you can in the auto industry.
So, one of the things I think I can bring to this company from 31 years in the auto industry is a knowledge of quality systems, how to design for service and how to engineer systems so that it all works well together. I want to bring some of those disciplines, lean manufacturing, quality control, into our business and raise the standards and raise the customer’s expectation of quality and what they should expect from a coach.
And I think with Navistar’s resources, we can do that. Navistar’s a great company. It’s a $15 billion company with experts in design and lean manufacturing. We can use all that expertise to distinguish ourselves in the industry. And that’s something that I think bodes well for our future. I think that we’ll raise the standards of quality in the industry.”

Holiday Rambler Trip motorhome

RVB: Are you prepared to address product directions at this point and where would you like to see things go in the future in terms of product design?Osborne: Well, I don’t want to reveal anything that would be useful to competitors, but I can tell you that I think one of the most important things to be successful in this industry is innovation – that what drives new sales and ownership is for people to see new features and functions that they haven’t seen before.
And so I believe that it’s going to be important for both the Holiday Rambler and Monaco brand to be known for a constant stream of innovation – to create new features and new products that excite people and make them want to trade up for a new coach.

RVB: Is this downsize Vesta Class A emblematic of the kinds of products we’re going to see from Monaco in the future?Osborne: Well, we heard that today when we talked with a number of our customers. You know, we asked them specifically if they were planning to trade down in terms of length. And a huge number of them said “yes,” that they’re using their motorhomes differently now, that they’re getting a little bit older and don’t need as much space. Fuel economy is obviously becoming a lot more important to them.
Over the long haul, our plan is to be there where our customers are going. I always rely on that Wayne Gretzy quote: You know, “don’t skate to where the puck is. Skate to where the puck’s going to be.” There’s a lot we can draw from these conversations.

RVB: So, while total industry motorhome shipments as a percent of the whole have slipped some in recent years, you clearly see Monaco as one of the long-term players in the motorized category, right?Osborne: We have to be. You know, I came here to help grow the motorcoach business, and we have very strong brands in Holiday Rambler and Monaco, and we plan to invest in both of those brands. Both brands will have a full product lineup. Both brands will have marketing support from the company, and both brands will build at excellent quality levels. And we think that’s kind of the recipe for success in the industry. Developing a strong service network and getting close to customers are also going to be, you know, how we distinguish ourselves.

RVB: This, it seems, is the kind of approach that dealers, traditionally, would approve of.Osborne: Well, when you don’t have captive dealers, what’s important is to have killer product because that’s what pulls sales through the dealers, right? So, that’s why we talk about a constant stream of innovation. Nothing pulls sales through the dealer channel like a killer product that people just can’t resist. If people come in and ask for a Holiday Rambler or a Monaco, that’s what’s going to drive dealers to stock up. In an industry where you don’t have captive dealers, it’s all about killer product.

RVB: And you’ll be managing Monaco, a company with key plants in Oregon and Indiana, from the west Chicago suburbs?Osborne: Yes. Working out the corporate headquarters will enable me to be a strong voice for Monaco within the corporation. You know, the big competitive advantage that we have is we have the resources and expertise of a Fortune 500 company that we can draw on, and my goal is to make sure that we bring all those resources to bear to make our company successful. That being said, I’m going to be out talking to customers. I’m going to be out in the operations. I’m not going to be doing the job from Chicago. But my goal is to make sure that I bring forth all of the resources that Navistar has.

Navistar Inc. announced today (May 3) that William H. Osborne has been named vice president of custom products. In this role, Osborne will have accountability for Navistar’s Monaco RV and Workhorse business units, according to a news release.

Osborne was appointed to Navistar’s board of directors in September 2009 and was a member of the board’s finance committee. He resigned his board position to assume his new role.

Osborne was previously president and CEO of Federal Signal Corp. and a veteran automotive industry executive.

“We are fortunate to have Bill join our team and apply his knowledge of the industry to our business,” said Daniel C. Ustian, Navistar chairman, president and CEO. “As a former member of Navistar’s board of directors, Bill has unique insights into our company. His manufacturing and automotive experience and expertise will be of great value to Navistar as we continue to diversify and expand globally into new marketplaces.”

Osborne, 51, spent more than 30 years in the automotive industry. Prior to joining Federal Signal in September 2008, Osborne served in a number of senior-level positions with Ford Motor Co., most recently as president and CEO of Ford of Australia. Previously, he served as president and CEO of Ford of Canada. Osborne’s earlier assignments included a variety of roles in product design, development and engineering. Before his career at Ford, Osborne held positions at Chrysler and General Motors.

Osborne holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Kettering University, a master’s degree in engineering from Wayne State University and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.

Monaco RV LLC announced Wednesday (March 16) R.V. World of Nokomis as a new dealer partner. The Florida dealership will carry the Holiday Rambler brand of motorhomes.

“Holiday Rambler and R.V. World of Nokomis are a perfect fit,” stated Scott Jacobson, national sales manager of Holiday Rambler. “Both have a rich, well-established history spanning many decades and the deep-rooted philosophy that customer always comes first. We are extremely happy to be joining forces with R.V. World to bring our mutual customer the very best in family friendly, affordable RVs on the market.”

Founded in 1977 and still family-owned-and-operated, R.V. World of Nokomis has grown to become one of the largest new and used RV dealerships in Southwest Florida.

The full-service dealership has a 16-bay service department and employs RVIA/RVDA certified technicians. The dealership also has an extensive parts department and body shop.

For more information about R.V. World of Nokomis, visit www.rvworldinc.com or call (800) 262-2182. For more information about Holiday Rambler products, visit www.holidayrambler.com or call (800) 245-4778.

Before the LPGA Tour season concludes Dec. 2-5 with the LPGA Tour Championship at the Grand Cypress Golf Club in Orlando, a host of LPGA players, executives, partners and friends will travel in a Monaco RV to visit with fans and spread the word about the Tour’s exciting season and its Florida finale.

The LPGA Road Trip Driven by Monaco RV/Alliance Coach “kicks off” this weekend with a couple of football games: A visit to Gainesville on Saturday (Nov. 13) for a University of Florida SEC football showdown with former Gators golfer Sandra Gal, followed the next day by a trip to Tampa for an NFL Buccaneers game with LPGA player Karen Stupples, a rabid Bucs fan.

The Monaco RV Diplomat will weave around Florida over the next week and a half, wrapping up the Road Trip just prior to Thanksgiving on Nov. 23 with a “Feed the Hungry” visit to Caring Hands Ministry in Wildwood, Fla., home of Alliance Coach, where participants in the Road Trip will prepare special pre-Thanksgiving meals.

“We’re thrilled to partner once again with the LPGA and its players, who not only know how to entertain and engage their fans, but also open their hearts to the communities where they visit,” said Ryan Lee, Monaco RV director of marketing. “As Presenting Sponsor of the Navistar LPGA Classic, we’ve enjoyed great success with the tour and love the idea of partnering for a fun, interactive road trip.”

Added LPGA Tour Commissioner Mike Whan: “Monaco RV’s a great success story — a former small, specialty RV manufacturer that has grown into a thriving corporation producing annual revenue exceeding $1 billion — so we’re proud to work with them both at our annual Navistar tournament as well as the countdown to the LPGA Tour Championship.”

Media and fans alike are encouraged to participate in the Road Trip, either in person or via the websites of the LPGA, Monaco RV and Alliance Coach, along with their affiliated Facebook pages, YouTube.com channels and Twitter feeds.

Besides the aforementioned football events with Sandra Gal and Karen Stupples, the Road Trip also will feature a number of other activities and appearances including:

Paula Creamer gets her first up-close view of the new Amway Center during an Orlando Magic game.

Attendees savored pleasant temperatures, low humidity and no rain, while other parts of the United States endured a summer heat wave. These favorable conditions likely helped draw attendees out en masse for seminars, entertainment, exhibits, and social activities.

According to Jerry Yeatts, FMCA’s director of conventions and commercial services, coach exhibitors seemed “extremely happy.” For example, one dealer reported selling six of its 11 coaches on display. Newcomer manufacturer Provan Industries unveiled its Tiger 4×4 Type C motorhome and sold the unit within the first 24 hours. Most of the higher-end Itasca-brand motorhomes that were exhibited found buyers as well. Monaco RV attracted onlookers with its new Vesta, a smaller Type A motorhome built on a proprietary Roadmaster chassis and powered by a 260-horsepower MaxxForce 7 front diesel engine.

Indoors, many supplier and component exhibitors experienced brisk sales. Convention attendees jammed the aisles when the exhibit buildings opened the first morning for an exclusive showing. Some indoor exhibitors reportedly sold out of their inventory the initial day. Catherine Hickland, “One Life To Live” TV star and owner of Cat’s Cosmetics, demonstrated her products on more than 400 ladies as she launched her “RV beauty pack” in Redmond.

Redmond evening entertainment was “a home run,” Yeatts said. FMCA paid tribute to the centennial of the RV industry, which is being celebrated throughout 2010, with a presentation of “The Long, Long Trailer,” a 1954 comedy starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Todd Fisher, an FMCA member and son of actress Debbie Reynolds, introduced the movie and shared some behind-the-scenes details. He also brought along a dress Lucille Ball wore in the film that is now part of the Debbie Reynolds Hollywood Movie Museum collection.

The following evening, Debbie Reynolds herself presented a humorous review of her life and career before a standing-room-only crowd. Other acts during the week included The Texas Tenors, of “America’s Got Talent” TV fame; Live Bait, a Jimmy Buffett tribute band; and the Forever Motown musical revue.

Attendees had their pick of 136 seminars covering 119 technical and nontechnical topics. These focused on such subjects as motorhome operation, maintenance, and components; travel sites; hobbies to pursue while RVing; exercise and health; and make-and-take crafts. Several additional sessions were scheduled on-site to accommodate overflow crowds.

Other convention activities included morning coffee hour; an ice cream social; special theme days; a dunk tank that raised funds for charity; bean bag baseball; karaoke; and even a wet T-shirt (throwing) contest. Some called to mind FMCA’s early 1960s-era conventions, when canoe battles, tugs-of-war, and other contests brought friends together.

That camaraderie seemed to resonate through the “Redmond Rocks!” crowd. Exhibitor and seminar presenter Jeanie McKay, of MindZone Publishing, commented, “We noticed a feeling of bonded unity we’ve never felt in an RV convention before.”

FMCA national president Charlie Schrenkel said that he and other members of the association’s Executive Board talked with numerous attendees in Redmond. “All told us that there was something in the air, something about this convention that they couldn’t put their finger on that made it one of the best that they had been to in a long time,” he said. “I believe that ‘something’ was us, sharing a unique experience with each other in a beautiful place — and having fun!”

FMCA resumes its international convention schedule next year: March 14-17 in Perry, Ga., and Aug. 10-13 in Madison, Wis.

For more information about FMCA international conventions, contact Pamela Kay or visit www.fmca.com.

Monaco RV has added vendor booths, on-site service technicians and even lowered the fees to attend the company’s 2010 Alabama Getaway Oct. 6-10 in conjunction with the Navistar LPGA Classic presented by Monaco RV in Prattville, Ala.

The rally fee includes tournament tickets, five nights of drycamping, three catered meals, four cocktail hours, two nights of entertainment, vendor-hosted seminars, golf outings (for an additional fee), special guests appearances and more.

Watch today’s Featured Video courtesy of KVAL-TV, Eugene, Ore., to learn more about the following story.

The future scares Margie ReGester.

“I want to be around for my grandkids,” ReGester said.

She lives on $553 a month. Country Coach laid her off three years ago, and she hasn’t been able to find work since. KVAL News interviewed ReGester when her COBRA ran out in January 2009.

Since then, like 73,000 other people in Oregon’s Lane County, ReGester’s been without insurance.

On Sunday (July 25), ReGester found herself surrounded by RVs once again. She wasn’t an employee. She was a patient.

Cascade Medical Teams rented out Monaco RV’s health clinic in Coburg, Ore., July 24-25. More than 100 volunteers, doctors and nurses treated and diagnosed people without health insurance at no cost.

Cascade Medical Teams usually provides free medical care in Guatemala. They recently decided the need was just as big in their backyard.

“We just felt that we needed to provide some of the expertise we’ve developed in doing the kinds of things we’ve done out of the country here in Lane County,” Cascade Medical Teams Board Member Bruce Mulligan said.

For ReGester, the clinic meant answers.

“Now I know why I’ve been so light-headed and dizzy and having these episodes I’ve been having,” ReGester said.

Without insurance she can’t afford doctors visits or medicine for her high blood pressure. At the clinic, Dr. Richard Barnhart did it all for free. The treatment doesn’t end there. On her way out, ReGester made a follow-up appointment at a low-income clinic. It’s a relief, she said, and it’s making her feel better.

“I’m sure my blood pressure has already gone down,” ReGester said.

The clinic served just under 200 people this weekend. Organizers said they were hoping for more patients. They are planning another free clinic in a few months and want to move it to a more central location.

Focusing on the ‘livability’ of its floorplan offerings — including a full-wall slideout and bath-and-a-half layouts — Monaco RV today (April 29) introduced its 2011 Diplomat Class A motorhome, available in lengths ranging from 40 to 43 feet. “The four (new) floorplans deliver, each offering unique design layouts offering the most space utilization,” said Mike Snell, senior vice president of sales and product development for the Coburg, Ore.-based manufacturer. The ’11 Diplomat will be offered in three lengths: a 40-foot coach built on the Roadmaster RR8R chassis, and 42- and 43-foot models utilizing Roadmaster’s RR10R tax-axle chassis. All units are powered by a 425-hp Cummins ISL diesel. The interior of the Diplomat is available in three decor choices, with ceramic tile throughout the living area, kitchen and bath; the kitchen also boasts solid-surface countertops, stainless-steel sink, ceramic tile backsplashes and, on the 42- and 43-foot models, a handy pull-out extension with drawers. All cabinetry is of solid hardwood, available in two wood choices. The bath-and-a-half floorplans for the 42PAQ and 43DFT feature full private bath beyond the bedroom, with shower, double vanity (43DFT) or single vanity with linen storage (42PAQ), solid-surface countertops and full rear wardrobe. Solid-surface countertops also are found on the bedroom nightstands; the sleeping area also features raised-panel hardwood cabinetry, day/night pleated blackout shades and 26-inch LCD TV with optional DVD player. The Diplomat is finished with full-body paint, highlighted by bold graphics. Options include an exterior entertainment center, GPS navigation system, central vacuum, auto-generator start, bedroom ceiling fan and RV San-con holding tank flush system. MSRPs start at $304,350.

Monaco RV LLC announced that Endless Summer RV in Fredrick, Md., has signed on as a dealer partner to carry the Monaco brand of motorhomes.

‘We are honored to partner with Endless Summer. This well-established and respected dealership offers first class sales and service and will provide our customers the highest level of care,” says Mike Snell, senior vice president of sales and product development. “We look forward to a long, successful partnership with Endless Summer, offering their customers the very best recreational vehicles on the market.”

Endless Summer RV, established in 1992, is family owned and operated by Thom and Teresa Beckley and is dedicated to the recreational vehicle camping community. The 10-acre complex includes a 20,000-square-foot, climate-controlled showroom with a full parts and accessories store and online business. Its full-service department is staffed by certified technicians working in a state-of-the-art, eight-bay service facility that includes a 40,000-pound motorhome lift.

“We chose to carry the Monaco brand due to Monaco RV’s reputation of building a quality motorhome and because of the market share it holds in the industry, “ says Thom Beckley, owner of Endless Summer RV.

“The strength of being backed by Navistar is a definite advantage for Monaco. I look forward to the future ahead with Monaco RV.”

Monaco RV LLC, Coburg, Ore., today (March 8) announced the new 2011 Neptune diesel pusher from Holiday Rambler in a news release. The popular motorhome has been upgraded to the eight air bag proprietary Roadmaster chassis, from the previous four air bag model. The eight outboard-mounted air bag RR8R Roadmaster chassis provides a wide and stable platform for the coach, improving drivability. The 2011 Holiday Rambler Neptune is powered by a new 360-hp engine, standard on 40-foot models, with a 340-hp engine standard on 36-foot models. Four creative floorplans are offered including the popular full-wall slide that provides massive living space. The interior boasts ceramic tile throughout the living area, kitchen and bath along with three well-appointed decor color choices. Solid surface countertops with mosaic tile backsplashes, an optional residential refrigerator and handy flip up countertop extension make meal preparation a breeze. All floorplans offer an optional king bed as well as solar screens with blackout shade. Behind the wheel, safety minded features include the Panaview one-piece windshield, standard three-camera rear vision system and optional GPS system. For more details on the Neptune including a video tour, along with information on Holiday Rambler’s full line of products, visit www.holidayrambler.com.

Monaco RV LLC announced today (Feb, 15) it has signed an agreement with Motor Sportsland to sell the Holiday Rambler brand of products.

Motor Sportsland located in Salt Lake City, is Utah’s No.1 volume RV dealership, with over ,1000 RVs sold every year since 2004. Founded in 1969 and an employee-owned company since 2004, Motor Sportsland encompasses eight acres with an established and experienced sales force and management team, according to a news release.

“Motor Sportland and Holiday Rambler are a perfect fit,” stated Kay Toolson, president of Monaco RV. “Both have a rich, well established history spanning many decades and the deep-rooted philosophy that customers always come first. We could not be happier to have Motor Sportsland join the Holiday Rambler family and we look forward to charting out the future together.”

According to Brett Parris, president of Motor Sportsland, “We chose to partner with Holiday Rambler because of its legacy of more than 50 years building quality products, as well as the exceptional brand recognition and loyalty associated with the Holiday Rambler name. We know customers from a large surrounding area will come seeking out Holiday Rambler products.”